Movers roundup: Avon, Masco move higher

Among the stock activity stories for Tuesday, Feb. 12, from The Associated Press:

— Avon Products Inc. was the biggest gainer of the Standard & Poor's 500 index after the direct seller of beauty products' adjusted fourth-quarter profit came in well ahead of Wall Street predictions. That prompted hopes that the company is in recovery mode.

— Masco's stock surged to its highest level in about five years as the home improvement and building products company's fourth-quarter results topped analysts' estimates an an improving housing market.

— Dun & Bradstreet Corp.'s shares fell following a disappointing fourth-quarter, as North America business slumps.

— Shares of StemCells Inc. jumped after the company said it finished treating the first group of patients in a clinical trial of its stem cell therapy.

— Shares of Cubic Corp. tumbled after the electronics company announced a fiscal first-quarter profit well below Wall Street expectations.